Dawn Bowden: Before I just ask my question of the Minister, I just wanted to note, and note that this Chamber notes that the UKIP AMs that have been lauding their representation of the Valleys throughout the Assembly elections and have been telling Labour how out of touch they are with the Valleys—
Dawn Bowden: [Continues.]—have not even bothered to stay in this Chamber for the discussion on the very future of those Valleys that they seek to represent. But, can I welcome the statement from the Minister? There’s no doubt that the post-Brexit initiative will now be even more important to the Valleys’ communities of south Wales, as we’ve said. And I’m not going to stand here and repeat...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, acting Presiding Officer. It’s a very brief question. Minister, in addition to the support for apprenticeship programmes, European structural funds did provide for discrete training towards vocational skills and qualifications, and such qualification-focused training is currently provided both in our further education colleges in Wales and through private learning providers. This...
Dawn Bowden: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for presenting the Welsh Government’s ‘Together for Mental Health’ delivery plan today? It’s most welcome. The last Labour administration introduced measures that saw a significant increase in funding for mental health services and stated that people who receive these services should have both care and treatment plans in place. Although we know that...
Dawn Bowden: Will the Minister provide an update on local education authorities that have recently been lifted from special measures?
Dawn Bowden: 7. Will the Minister make a statement on the opportunities that the Wales Bill could open up for integrating public transport systems in the south east Wales valleys? OAQ(5)0033(EI)
Dawn Bowden: I actually think the Cabinet Secretary has just answered my question as well, but let me just go through it anyway. You’ll recall that I’ve previously raised the issue in this Chamber about the tourism industry in Wales, and our social and historical heritage—the industrial heritage particularly in constituencies like mine. And, so, I was pleased to learn about the Welsh Government’s...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, and we’re all acutely aware, clearly, of the benefits that the city deal and the south-east Wales metro would bring to the Valleys areas of Wales. The risks to that development following Brexit we’ve rehearsed ad infinitum in the Chamber, so I’m not going to dwell on those. However, we have welcomed in this Chamber the announcement of the formation of the...
Dawn Bowden: The Cabinet Secretary will be aware of the developments of the Choose Well campaign, which has been promoted jointly by a number of health boards, the ambulance trust, Welsh Government, trade unions and other organisations, as you know. The campaign encourages the public to stop and think before calling an ambulance for non-emergency or life-threatening conditions, or before turning up to A&E...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, Bethan Jenkins, for letting me have my minute. Can I also thank Bethan for reminding us about the Merthyr Rising and the part that that played in the development of the trade union movement? I was very honoured to speak at the opening of the Merthyr Rising festival this year, which is the event—a now annual event—that commemorates that particular event. I’m very glad that...
Dawn Bowden: 2. Will the Minister make a statement on support for small businesses in Wales? OAQ(5)0052(EI)
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. Can I say, I was greatly encouraged by a report last week that highlighted the positive signs of growth in my own constituency of Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney? We have a new factory—General Dynamics—at Pentrebach, bringing in 250 new jobs, high-quality jobs, into the area, and 150 new jobs to EE in Merthyr. And the report also quoted a local restaurant owner,...
Dawn Bowden: I thank the First Minister for his answer on that. I just wanted to widen this slightly to road safety issues that certainly have been raised with me, and I’m sure many other Members, particularly relating to safety around schools. It’s often the case that, even with the provision of zebra and pelican crossings, the safety of children travelling to and from schools is a concern. Ideally,...
Dawn Bowden: I think I agree with much of what’s been said by many of my colleagues, so I don’t want to repeat that and prolong it—
Dawn Bowden: I’m going to do that. What I wanted to say, however, is that I think that we do need to recognise that anti-poverty strategies have been at the forefront of Welsh Government policy for many years. In my own constituency, in common with many other constituencies whose representatives have spoken today, we’ve seen incredible work done on a daily basis—on a daily basis—around social...
Dawn Bowden: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for bringing forward this particular motion, which I think is well timed, given where we are this week? No doubt a good proportion of what we are going to hear today will be related to hate crime post Brexit. We’ve heard some of that already. But we shouldn’t forget that hate crime does include attacks—as we’ve already heard—based on gender,...
Dawn Bowden: 13. Will the Minister make a statement on tackling homelessness in Wales? OAQ(5)0046(CC)
Dawn Bowden: Can I thank the Cabinet Secretary for her response previously on this? The active travel plan, which I referred to yesterday, in fact, in relation to road safety around schools, also places an expectation on local authorities in Wales to start drawing up maps of proposed new networks for walking and cycling routes. In Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, as you probably know, there are already...
Dawn Bowden: Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for that response. I’m certainly pleased to learn that those bodies and organisations responsible for addressing homelessness in Wales have given positive feedback on the results of the changes brought about under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014. For my part, I’m certainly encouraged by how these initiatives have assisted me in supporting constituents faced with...
Dawn Bowden: I think much has already been said very powerfully in this debate, and covered, so I’m not going to touch on those areas that have already been covered. I want to confine my comments, quite briefly, to support for mental health in the workplace. Could I start by commending the intent behind this motion from Plaid Cymru? But I believe the third proposal of the motion is a diversion away...
